Brett Brodeen, Principal Cooper Elementary
Superior Schools Go Google
By Brett Brodeen, Principal, Cooper Elementary
This past February, the School District of Superior went Google. When a district goes Google, it means that students and teachers are given Google accounts which provide natural avenues for collaboration through email and Google Drive (Google’s version of Microsoft Office). To support this district technology initiative, Cooper purchased 20 Chromebooks.
Before exploring how students are using Chromebooks, it is important to understand why Chromebooks, and not more traditional laptops were purchased. The primary reasons are cost and accessibility. These two benefits merge perfectly in this single device.
Cost
The Google Chromebook – photo source: Google
At about $300, Google Chromebooks cost less than most iPads, and have a far greater range of student educational uses. With the shift of our District “going Google” these newly purchased Chromebooks have nearly the same function as a laptop, which cost almost a thousand dollars more per device.
How is this possible? Great question! The cost of Chromebooks is so affordable because they do not have large hard drives, media readers, or expensive software and operating systems. If feels like the best of both worlds, iPads and laptops!
Accessibility
Most of the electronic work students are now doing is a collaborative process, and the best tool for collaborative work is on a web-based system (like Google Drive), instead of a locally based document, saved on a single computer.
With Chromebooks users having the option of downloading any of Google’s applications or extensions depending on their educational needs. All of the work they do, is stored on the Internet rather than on the Chromebook.
Other features that make the Chromebook an attractive option for elementary students are: start-up time, automatic updates, and long battery life.
One grade level that naturally gravitated toward the Chromebooks were our fifth graders. Using Google Classroom as a hub for resources, assignments, and collaboration, students were able to work independently or in small groups as needed. This structure provided the teachers with the flexibility to pull students in small groups or one-to-one to work on specific skills.
In addition, by using Google Drive to produce their work, teachers were able to provide the students with immediate feedback, one of the most effective teaching strategies. The Chromebooks long battery life and limited options helped keep students on-task and focused for the duration of their work time.
Students are raving about Chromebooks. Here are some of things they are saying:
- “I appreciate the reminder emails that teachers send for assignments and special class events.”
- “They are easy to use. They start up fast.”
- “I like using them for research and having my own account.”
- “I like how it instantly saves my work. I don’t have to do so much clicking to save my work.”
With the research and knowledge from Cooper’s Occupational and Physical Therapists, we have explored and designed a program that allows us to have more flexible use of our ChromeLab. Cooper has implemented alternate work stations, like standing desks that are more ergonomically correct for our students.
